Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-13
A " THIRTEEN NATION.
HISTORY PROVES THE NUMBER 4
LUCKY ONE FOR AMERICA.

The Original Thirteen States-Thirteenh
Term -Per-y's victory-S-u'ement oi
Virxinia-Ihree Times Thirteen.
1t seems well. in this blessed year Of
the celebration of the hundrsdth anniver-
sary OF the completion and Prumulgation
Of the United States constitution, which,
as the late Judge Black, of Pennsylvania,
wrote a few years ego, has proved strong
enough To survive and meet the eXigen-
cies Of several foreign wars and one civil
war and more remarkable still, has with
stood the demoralizing effects upon the
people Of what he called the "canker Of u
calm world and Il long peace" 10 call at
tentiOn to the fact that the almost uni
yersally considered unlucky number thir-
teen has in numerous important instances
proved II most lucky one for these United
States.
There were originally thirteen states in
our Union, and the constitution was first
formally declared ratified by the Conven-
tions of nine Of them, and, according to its
own provisions, was then established be-
tween the states So ratifying the same" on
Sept 13, 1,SS. when the date was also
fixed for the new form Of government to
begin-on the first Wednesday in the fol-
lowing March. Previously the noted
instrument known as the ordinance Of
1877 had been passed by congress on the
18th Of July Of that year.
The Thirteenth amendment to the con-
stitution is that prohibiting slavery or
involuntary servitude, except rs a punish
ment for crime" within the United States,
and marked most important era in our
progress, and IA fortunate one as an nd
vance in Christian civilization. The thir-
teenth presidential term. that of Martin
Van Buren,, and The term Of the thirteenth
President, Aklliard Fillmore, were both
eras Of great national prosperity. 1t was
ON the 18th of August, 1888, that banks
in the United States resumed specie pay
ments, which was during the thirteenth
presidential term.
MORE TERRITORY.
During the term Of the thirteenth presi-
Flllmore-CaliforniA was admitted
as a state, bringing its great mineral
wealth into our Union; and on Dec. IL,
1850, the territory Of New Mexico IAN
other part Of the wealth producing lands
which came TO us in consequence Of our
victory in the war with Mexico was or
gained. That war which SO enriched our
people was fought and the victory won
during the presidential term Of james X.
Polk, who was the thirteenth individual
who had been elected speaker OF the Ma
tional house of representatives; and, curl
ously enough, that thirteenth speaker Is
the only one out Of thirty who have teld
that Office who has been elected president
Of the United States UP To the present
time, though two Of the more noted indi'
viduals who have served rs speaker OF thai
house-Henry Clay and James Il. Blaine
have each been nominated by his party
(the former several tines as a candidate
for the presidency.
1t was in the year 1918 that Perry's vic
tory on Lake Erie, our greatest naval vic
tory against a foreign foe, occurred.
On the 18th of May, 1907, occurred the
first settlement Of jamestown, Va, the
state which has had more Of its citizen:
succeed to the presidency than any other
and four Of the five individuals from thai
state who have been ut the head Of oul
nation had two terms in office. In view
of all these lucky thirteens in the history
Of the United States might it not be calle,
a thirteen nation,
Beginning with thirteen states it |.
likely we may have just three times thir
teen when we celebrate in 1889 the cen
tennial anniversary Of the beginning o
the present form of government.
The only instance the writer has ye
found of thirteen heing an unlucky mum
ber in the history of our government or o
prominent officers thereof is that Of vii
liam X King, who was elected to fill th'
thirteenth vice presidential term, bu
/ could not even so to Washington to TAX
| the oath Of Office, but WAS by law per
mitted To take it elsewhere, and died il
( April, his term having begun in March
1857.
So the one exception proves the rule
| Harners RaZNr